Officials with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works are offering $1,000 for the return of a gauge that, if damaged, can cause radiation sickness.

The device, a thin layer density gauge, uses radiation to measure how dense something is, similar to x-rays. It was being used to test the thickness of roadways at the time it went missing.

The gauge was last seen in Littlerock, California, on Thursday at around 4 p.m. local time in the back of a county work truck, officials told KCBS-TV.

For the user’s safety, the device has lead surrounding sealed radioactive material, but if the gauge is damaged the radioactive material could become exposed and cause people to become sick.

Officials told KCBS-TV that the gauge is yellow, around 19 inches long, 9 inches wide, and 6 inches high, with a 5-inch handle and a radiation logo on its side. 

The Department of Public Works is conducting an “aggressive search” in and around Littlerock and has also let relevant local, state and federal authorities know about the missing gauge, according to MyNewsLA.com. Residents are asked to call 911 immediately if they find the gauge so that a trained professional could safely recover the device.

• Brad Matthews can be reached at bmatthews@washingtontimes.com.